About Kirtan
Kirtan means to glorify. It is our innate urge and nature to glorify someone or something. We choose objects or people based on our personal likings and tend to glorify them. This natural tendency is tied up to our nature as a infinitesimal spiritual living entity. There is no meaning to glorification, if there is no object worth of that glorification. So essentially Kirtan means to develop that relationship of lover and the loved.
Generally in the material consciousness, we realize that as soon as that worshippable object or person is no longer related to us in a way we desired or failed to fullfill our desires, we give up. This can be even true for spiritual practices, wherein our motivation will be tested. If we carefully introspect we realize the whole purpose of this entire glorification is also to satisfy ourselves. As a spiritual entity we naturally desire for happiness. Now, regardless of our material condition (good, bad or worst) our heart can only be satisfied when we glorify the right Person or Object. The only issue that remains is to find who is that Person ? It is not something that has to be experimented or speculated. It is something that we need to accept from authority and when we do it, we know the real fact ourselves, just as hunger subsides once we begin eating. This is true because as long as we are affected by material mind, we hover on mental platform rather than spiritual platform.
The Vedic scriptures like Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads and especially the essence in the form of Srimad Bhagavatam give us a great information on this subject. They provide us answers to questions like who is the real object of our glorification or in other words by glorifying whom, we can experience complete satisfaction and derive unlimited bliss. And, every scripture clearly declares that object as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna or all His Vishnu incarnations. So that means the object of our real glorification can only be Him, because only through His connection we can experience complete satisfaction of our hearts at all times. Though we can definitely experience some peace and happiness in glorifying other divine personalities (demigods) like Lord Siva, Lord Ganesh etc, still it cannot bring complete satisfaction because we are all (including demigods) originally part and parcels of the Supreme Lord Krsna and our real joy is in glorifying Him. Even Lord Siva, who is considered to be Mahadeva (leader of all demigods) is himself engaged in glorifying Lord Krsna and thus considered as the greatest devotee of Lord Krsna. This subject is often misunderstood because of the misinterpretation of vedic literatures by unscruplous persons. But, those who are learned in spiritual knowledge and realization accept this conclusion as a fact. There is one beautiful story in this regard about a famous poet called Candidas.
Candidasa coined a mantra which is even today used by worshippers of Durgadevi: "dhanang deji roopang dehi roopa-pati-bhaajang dehi." - "O worshippable Mother Durgadevi, please give me wealth, strength, fame, a good wife and so on." So Candidasa was engaged in Durga worship, and naturally when one worships Durga, so much material facility. He had a big garden, and a palace. Candidasa's brother was a Vaisnava (one who is dedicated to worship Lord Krsna or Vishnu, understanding Him as the Supreme Godhead) engaged in salagram (form of Vishnu) worship. Vaisnavas were generally quite poor. The Vaisnava brother had a salagram, but he had no flower to offer. So he would look in his brother's garden, and he would lust over it. "So many flowers, and my salagram gets no flower." One day while he was looking at the garden, he mentally offered a flower from that garden to his salagram. And somehow or other, Candidas picked the very same flower the next day, and he offered to Candi (Durga).
Immediately she appeared and said, "I am pleased with you, Candidas. What benediction do you want?"
Candi das replied , "Wait, every day I am worshipping you. Why today have you suddenly become present? Tell me that."
She said, " Because you have offered me the flower which has been offered to Salagram (Vishnu), and that it is prasadam (Mercy). By seeing that prasadam flower I became pleased, so I appeared before you."
"But if salagram is superior to you," Candidas said, "Why did you not tell me, stupid Candidas, why are you worshipping me? You should worship Salagram."
Candi said, "Well you never asked me who was Supreme. Did you ever ask me? I would have given you reply. I know who is Supreme, Krsna is Supreme, and Salagram is the worshippable object, not me. But because you were at least worshipping me, so I thought I would train you in worship. And then when you find out who is to be worshipped, then you will actually worship properly."
So Candidas when he heard this, said, "I'm really sorry that I've wasted my life. Please excuse me, I'm going to worship Salagram. Is that alright?"
Yes please, I'm happy! Go worship Salagram," Candi said.
One simple example given in scriptures is when we water the root of the tree, every part of tree gets the nourishment. We can only get the real happiness, peace and balance when we can realize the importance and necessity of watering that root in our lives. It is not a question of argument or speculation but can be experienced.
With such an understanding, if we sincerely take shelter of holy name of Lord Krsna, very soon we can realize our original nature and become joyful. It will also bring an end to our long lasting frustrated attempts of finding happiness in this world. It is all available provided we put sufficient faith in the word of God (Scriptures), Great devotees and give up our false speculation. This is the fastest and surest way to true happiness and joy. If one thinks such a surrender is too much to start with, then atleast one needs to give a sincere try and such an endeavor itself will invoke supreme mercy of the Lord and one will be awarded the necessary conviction to dedicate himself on such a path of bliss and joy.
"Pure love for Krsna is eternally established in the hearts of living entities. It is not something to be gained from another source. When the heart is purified by hearing and chanting, the living entity naturally awakens." (CC. M. 22.107)
etan nirvidyamananam icchatam akuto-bhayam
yoginam nrpa nirnitam harer namanukirtanam
O King, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord Hari after the ways of the great authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all, including those who are free from all material desires, those who are desirous of all material enjoyment, and also those who are self-satisfied by dint of transcendental knowledge. (SB 2.1.11)
hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare | hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare ||
iti sodasakam namnam kali-kalmasa-nasanam | natah parataropayah sarva-vedesu drsyate ||
“The sixteen words of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra - (Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare) - are especially meant for counteracting the sins of Kali-yuga. To save oneself from the contamination of Kali-yuga there is no other alternative, but to chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.After searching through all the Vedic scriptures one cannot find a method of religion for this age (Kali-yuga) so sublime as the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.” (Lord Brahma instructing Narada Muni )